Short-circuit protection device

Abstract

A short-circuit protection device for limiting a battery current of a battery strand having at least one battery cell and for guiding an output current to a consumer network via a first network terminal and a second network terminal connected to the short-circuit protection device, the short-circuit protection device compring: a first switching element configured to interrupt the battery current to limit the output current; at least one current detection means; a comparison arrangement configured to compare the output current with a predefined target value; at least one inductor arranged series with the switching element; an inductor current regulation arrangement configured to actuate the switching element; and a first bridge device configured to bridge at least one battery cell of the battery strand and limit the predefined target value to a predefined maximum value of a short-circuit current.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A short-circuit protection device for limiting a battery current of a battery strand having at least one battery cell and for guiding an output current to a consumer network via a first network terminal and a second network terminal connected to the short-circuit protection device, a first power circuit being formed by the battery strand, the first network terminal, the second network terminal, and the consumer network, the short-circuit protection device compring:
 a first switching element arranged in the first power circuit and configured to interrupt the battery current to limit the output current; 
 at least one current detection means configured to determine a magnitude of the output current; 
 a comparison arrangement configured to compare the magnitude of the output current with a predefined target value; 
 at least one inductor arranged in series with the first switching element; 
 an inductor current regulation arrangement configured to receive a signal from the comparison arrangement and regulate the output current flowing through the at least one inductor by actuating the first switching element; and 
 a first bridge device comprising one of a switch and a diode and configured to, in the event of an interruption of the battery current by the first switching element, (i) bridge at least one battery cell of the battery strand, (ii) close a second power circuit for the output current via the first network terminal, the second network terminal, the consumer network, and the at least one inductor, and (iii) limit the predefined target value to a predefined maximum value of a short-circuit current. 
 
     
     
       2. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein a downstream current converter is formed by the at least one inductor, the inductor current regulation arrangement, the first switching element, and the first bridge device, the downstream current converter further comprising:
 a capacitor configured to smooth the output current. 
 
     
     
       3. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one inductor includes least two inductors; 
 the first switching element includes at least two first switching elements; 
 the first bridge device comprises at least two first bridge devices; and 
 the at least two inductors, the at least two first switching elements, and the at least two first bridge devices form a double synchronous converter. 
 
     
     
       4. The short-circuit protection device according  claim 1 , wherein the battery strand has a number n=N battery cells and at least one second bridge device configured to bridge at least k battery cells, such that, in the event of an interruption of the battery current by the switching element, n−k battery cells continue to contribute to the output current delivered by the short-circuit protection device. 
     
     
       5. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one second bridge device of the battery strand bridges exactly one battery cell, such that, in the event of an interruption of the battery current by the switching element, n−1 battery cells continue to contribute to the output current delivered by the short-circuit protection device. 
     
     
       6. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the battery strand has a plurality of battery modules connected in series, each battery module of the plurality of battery modules having at least one battery cell; and 
 the at least one inductor is connected in series with the at least one battery cell of at least one of the battery modules of the plurality of battery modules. 
 
     
     
       7. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 6 , the at least one inductor comprising:
 a plurality of inductors, each inductor of the plurality of inductors being connected in series with an associated battery module of the plurality of battery modules. 
 
     
     
       8. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the battery modules of the plurality of battery modules with which the at least one inductor is connected in series has exactly one battery cell. 
     
     
       9. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 8 , the at least one inductor comprising:
 a plurality of inductors, each inductor of the plurality of inductors being connected in series with an associated battery cell of a battery module of the plurality of battery modules. 
 
     
     
       10. The short-circuit protection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery strand has a plurality of battery modules connected in series, each battery module of the plurality of battery modules having at least one battery cell, a second bridge device configured to bridge the at least one battery cell, and a second switching element configured to interrupt a portion of a battery current current that is contributed by the at least one battery cell.